Archive for Dec 29, 2009

In the past year Sling has released very few updates and even fewer new products. To be exact, just one, an iPhone client which was subsequently neutered by Apple and AT&T. Now the company is promising a new, slimmer range of Slingboxes, together with touchscreens and WiFi TV at CES 2010.

Looks like the Google Nexus One speculation is drawing to a close, with the news that Google are hosting an exclusive "Android press gathering" on January 5th. While the Nexus One is not specifically mentioned in the invitation, it seems likely to be the main focus at the event.

Leaky T-Mobile is spilling Google Nexus One details this morning, with both BGR and TmoNews receiving internal screenshots from the carrier. Both show the same page from T-Mobile's StreamLine employee systems, which suggest that "Google, with support from T-Mobile, is scheduled to launch a new Android device in early January". It goes on to confirm that Google will be distributing the Nexus One solely via the web, splitting hardware and tariff support between them and the carrier.

Given that Amazon have spent the past few weeks shouting about the Kindle's sales success, you can't really blame Insdream for looking over there for a little design inspiration. The Insdream SX601 has a 6-inch display, like the Kindle and the B&N nook, but rather than using E Ink's Vizplex panel they've opted for a 16-greyscale-level DSTN panel.

Yesterday the Bluetooth desktop dock, today the Bluetooth car dock; FCC filings for Google Nexus One accessories are cropping up with increasing regularity. Described in the document as for the "Google Phone" - rather than the Nexus One, as the handset has always been referred to previously - the car dock looks, from the hastily slapped together diagram you can see after the cut, like a pretty straightforward in-car cradle.

Having seen the first unboxing video of the Camangi Webstation yesterday, initial impressions are beginning to filter through. Unfortunately, they're not all positive; Laptop spent some time with the 7-inch Android slate and while build quality and design are just as good as we'd heard, actually performance is less impressive. They describe the Webstation as "sluggish", with the 624MHz Marvell processor "taking a few seconds longer to load apps and web pages or respond to button presses than we like."

Updated: A second review is in, and it's a whole lot more critical. Check out why one Camangi Webstation pre-order customer is already looking at how he can return his device after the cut.

The ongoing legal battle between Nokia and Apple has gained another layer of complexity today, as Nokia demand a United States International Trade Commission (ITC) investigation based on accusations of "Apple's practice of building its business on Nokia's proprietary innovation." Distinct from the litigation in Delaware, which concerns Nokia's wireless standard patents, this new investigation would concern UI, camera, antenna and power management technologies.

Gamers and enthusiasts who build powerful gaming computers with fast CPUs and multiple video cards know that you need lots of power to make the systems run stably. Huntkey has a new PSU called the X7 that promises to provide enough power for high-end machines.

There are lots of different GPS devices that are aimed at different uses. In the car, we have GPS devices that help us drive from one place to another around town or across the country. Outdoors active types can get GPS devices that help them find their way in the wild outdoors.

Format wars are not uncommon in the technology world. We had format wars with Betamax versus VHS in the 80's and more recently the Blu-ray versus HD DVD format wars. Another format war is brewing in the movie theater industry that could spill over into the home as well.

Computer makers have been trying for a long time to get netbooks for the education environment and developing nations to the sub-$100 price range. One of the most recent machines to aim at the magic price point is the NorhTec Gecko Edubook. Earlier this month we talked a bit about the NorhTec Gecko Surfboard from the same company.

In Korea and other parts of the world portable TV standards have been around for a long time so the ability to watch TV from cell phones and other portable devices is old hat in many locations. Here in America we have had no mobile TV standard and have been left having to use TV tuners that work with traditional TV standards.